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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCMeetingMinutes_02.11.16 TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes Meeting Date February 11, 2016 Meeting Location: School Administration Building, CTO 6:45 Bill Callahan, BC Chairman Susan Almono, SA X Donald Elliot, DE Vice Chair X Timothy Tschirhart, TT X Karin Blake, KB X Liz Gerron, LG X Thomas Ringler, TR Angela Ciofolo, AC X Chris Nobile, CN X Jennifer Goldman, JG Non Finance Committee Members in attendance Cathy Darby (Darby), Community Services Division Head Irene , Director Senior Services Kathleen Keenan, (Keenan), Library Director Lyne Savage (Savage), Budget Director Andrew Mayor (Maylor), Town Manager Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to change upon receipt of new information. Note: Documents used in this meeting are listed in Document Table, herein. Agenda I Call to Order 6:45 PM DE: Good evening to all our guests, and we do have a quorum. Agenda II Approval of minutes January 26, 2016 these Minutes. DE: The only comment I would like to make is that the Minutes seem to be getting longer. In the past they have been just a summary of the meeting. CN: now the meetings are televised and are available to view (at any time) 1 February 11, 2016 Agenda III Budget overview: Community Service DE: We have a number of budget overviews tonight. Cathy Darby, Community Services Division Head Darby: Directed the members to page 173 from the Budget Book to start. Darby: spoke of the significant changes in Veterans Services and stated that probably the highest highlight this year is that we hired a new District Director of Veterans Service, Gerry Maguire. He started January 11, 2016. The Veterans Department consists of the District Director and a part time administrative assistant and the office services North Andover as well as Boxford (22% of revenue comes from Boxford). The other new thing is that we have appointed a new Veterans Grave Officer. Irene Director Senior Services Reference pages 167-169 from the Budget Book. . : Went on to say that they run approximately 52 active programs and if you include the services we are at 82 (includes services and programs). We have about 956 people come in a week. We also do about 19,000 Meals on Wheels a month. We do have transportation such as trips to the mall or trips to the market. : stated that we added an additional day to that service/program. Lots of activities go on, but mornings seem to be the busiest time. Orien: spoke of the $48,000 that helps support 3 part-timers. O'Brien: stated that she has 5 full time employees and 5 part time employees O'Brien: One of the concerns she has is with homebound elders. They can't get out and these people rely on Meals on Wheels. O'Brien: We are trained for Alzheimer's support not just for the client but also for the care partner. We also received an award from Washington. O'Brien: Our part-time person does wellness checks all the time. There are about 140 homebound clients that we service. O'Brien: stated that I know that there are more homebound elders out there that may need our services. DE: stated that part of the original Master Facility Plan identified an update of the Senior Center. O'Brien: We look forward to future updates to the Senior Center. Kathleen Keenan, Library Director Reference pages 176-179 from the Budget Book Keenan: I tell people that we are extremely fortunate that North Andover treats the library very well. About 1,300 people come through the library in a week and we are opened 61 hours. Kennan: Went on to say that they have 7 full time staff employed at the library, 6 are library professionals . and 1 is the custodian 2 February 11, 2016 Keenan: spoke of the thing that has changed the most with libraries not only in North Andover but all over, and that is technology. Keenan: Also spoke of how she has needed to be creative with space and that the portable shelves on wheels have helped them re-create space at the library. Agenda IV Discussion of Collective Bargaining Agreements signed over the past fiscal year DE: The next thing on the agenda is the discussion on Collective Bargaining. I am looking for suggestions (this has been an ongoing discussion). Maylor: As I understand it there was an advisory article and then a legal option, relative to whether or not there was an obligation or requirement for Town Meeting to approve Collective Bargaining Agreements, the answer is no. Maylor: Explained the procedures, bargaining and obligations to the Committee. Ultimately the Budgets include the financing for Collective Bargaining Agreements. The Finance Committee reviews the budgets, and Town Meeting Approves the budget. Maylor: The cost of these Collective Bargaining Agreements stays within our ability to pay for it. Agenda V Questions to the Town Manager DE: We were discussing Elder Services and the Senior Center. Is the Senior Center part of Facility Master Plan 1 or Facility Master Plan 2? Maylor: Responded that it is in the initial plan. Maylor: The expansion of the Senior Center will be in about 3 years. Town Hall will be open in October and then we will be moving forward with the DPW renovations/improvements, classrooms will be next and then the Senior Center. SA: How are you planning for the future growth of the senior population? What are your plans? Maylor: We do have organic data, internal data and information that comes from our census, to know our age population in town. It is a fact people are living longer. Maylor went on to say that we do need to think about Senior Housing. Maylor: Spoke of the Social Benefits of having seniors stay and not move away. Maylor stated that anything we can do multigenerational is a benefit to us as a community. It makes us stronger. We need to focus on having our seniors stay and be able to retire in North Andover. Maylor: Then spoke of the budget and stated that the goal is to stay within 3.7% of the budget. Maylor: stated that 3 years ago he asked for funding to pay and purchase our street lights for $89,000. We were able to pay off the $89,000 in less than 3 years. We are beginning to migrate to LED lights with the savings created in the street light account. Therefore the cost of repair and energy goes down. 3 February 11, 2016 Agenda VI Review of Finance Committee Report for 2016 DE: Suggested since BC was not at tonight's meeting that we should Table the Finance Committee report till the next meeting. KB: Made a motion to table the Finance Committee Report till the next meeting. SA: Second the motion All were in favor Agenda VII Adjourn 8:45 LG: Made a motion to adjourn TT: Second the motion All in favor Document Table SUBJECT FROM TO 1. Fincom Warrant letter BC Fincom TH 2. Finance Committee minutes January 26 2016 Angela Fincom 3. 4. Four Season North Andover Senior Newsletter Fincom 4 February 11, 2016